TheShavingofOccam123:It sounds like too much wealth has been created and distributed into too many hands.

IT'S TIME FOR A LITTLE CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH THROUGH THE USE OF WAR!!1!

/the real nice thing is if you are in the right class, you can make enormous profits by selling military equipment while transferring wealth from casualties. AT THE SAME TIME!!1! It's a win-win.

That is pure, unadulterated snake oil, right there. Wealth has been becoming more and more concentrated in fewer hands since 1980. You know the last time there was a vast redistribution of wealth in this country and a lot less income and wealth disparity? In the late '40s and the 1950s, after World War II, because of the GI bill and other distributive programs for veterans.

/Not that I'm for war, now, but only a few plutocrats benefit financially from it. Most plutocrats hate war, because it's bad for trade.

AngryDragon:HMS_Blinkin: Because subby has been watching too much History channel and wants to re-live WWII for some deluded reason? Today's circumstances are only superficially similar to those that led to WWII, and anyone who bothers to look past the "ZOMG borders are being violated" narrative will quickly realize that.

I'm not saying that the international situation isn't a bit troubling, but it's also not a replay of 1939.

dittybopper:HMS_Blinkin: Because subby has been watching too much History channel and wants to re-live WWII for some deluded reason? Today's circumstances are only superficially similar to those that led to WWII, and anyone who bothers to look past the "ZOMG borders are being violated" narrative will quickly realize that.

I'm not saying that the international situation isn't a bit troubling, but it's also not a replay of 1939.

IamKaiserSoze!!!:Now that they're our friends, I kinda like the idea of arming the shiate out of those crazy Germans and Japanese. I mean, if I had to look over my shoulder in a facedown with poooty I would like to see some foaming at the mouth Germans and Japanese behind me.

I mean, what could go wrong?

I can tell you that the Russians and Germans still maintain a seething hatred for one another. they did terrible things to each other at the end of that war.

/learned this from a beautiful Russian girl. She liked me enough, but I have a German surname.

LazyMedia:TheShavingofOccam123: It sounds like too much wealth has been created and distributed into too many hands.

IT'S TIME FOR A LITTLE CONCENTRATION OF WEALTH THROUGH THE USE OF WAR!!1!

/the real nice thing is if you are in the right class, you can make enormous profits by selling military equipment while transferring wealth from casualties. AT THE SAME TIME!!1! It's a win-win.

That is pure, unadulterated snake oil, right there. Wealth has been becoming more and more concentrated in fewer hands since 1980. You know the last time there was a vast redistribution of wealth in this country and a lot less income and wealth disparity? In the late '40s and the 1950s, after World War II, because of the GI bill and other distributive programs for veterans.

/Not that I'm for war, now, but only a few plutocrats benefit financially from it. Most plutocrats hate war, because it's bad for trade.

Putin has amassed a personal wealth of $70 billion. Most of it by transferring wealth from dead fellow Russians. The process goes on all the time. It's just a question of scale. There's been an enormous creation and accrual of wealth. The problem is there's too many with too much.

And as I said, as long as you can play both sides or make sure your side wins, you can make lots of money manipulating the masses to fight a war with your weaponry. Plus, you get to keep the dead guys' stuff.

But... China is aggressively trying to annex the north and south china seas in order to lock in those resources and trading routes, at the cost of Japan, Vietnam, Indonesia, and the Philippines.

And Russia is aggressively trying annex Eastern Europe for much the same reason, at the cost of the former USSR vassal states and the European Union, who want a nice big buffer between them and Russia.

So is it really any surprise that Japan and Europe are likely to increase their respective military footprints?

You'd be a fool not to notice the similarity...and even more of a fool to throw statistics out to disagree.

WW3? Unlikely. But future conflict with N. Korea, China, or Russia? Highly likely. I was in Japan recently and for quite a stay, and they're all pretty pissed at N. Korea and China because both countries like to fawk with Japan...so unleashing the hounds, military-wise was probably a slam dunk.

tinfoil-hat maggie:HMS_Blinkin: Because subby has been watching too much History channel and wants to re-live WWII for some deluded reason? Today's circumstances are only superficially similar to those that led to WWII, and anyone who bothers to look past the "ZOMG borders are being violated" narrative will quickly realize that.

I'm not saying that the international situation isn't a bit troubling, but it's also not a replay of 1939.

mainsail:tinfoil-hat maggie: HMS_Blinkin: Because subby has been watching too much History channel and wants to re-live WWII for some deluded reason? Today's circumstances are only superficially similar to those that led to WWII, and anyone who bothers to look past the "ZOMG borders are being violated" narrative will quickly realize that.

I'm not saying that the international situation isn't a bit troubling, but it's also not a replay of 1939.

More like 1914.

Cheery thought.

The Russ are the protectors of all the Slavs.

Russian National AnthemFrom there:Uploaded on Sep 27, 2008Long live the Russians...the mother of the Slavs!!! May Russian recapture its former glory! May all Slavic nations unite!!!

Because subby has been watching too much History channel and wants to re-live WWII for some deluded reason? Today's circumstances are only superficially similar to those that led to WWII, and anyone who bothers to look past the "ZOMG borders are being violated" narrative will quickly realize that.I'm not saying that the international situation isn't a bit troubling, but it's also not a replay of 1939.

Lighten up Francis, this FARK not graduate level International History or a thesis in Foreigh Policy and Diplomacy

HMS_Blinkin:Because subby has been watching too much History channel and wants to re-live WWII for some deluded reason? Today's circumstances are only superficially similar to those that led to WWII, and anyone who bothers to look past the "ZOMG borders are being violated" narrative will quickly realize that.

I'm not saying that the international situation isn't a bit troubling, but it's also not a replay of 1939.

The History channel hasn't been the "World War II Channel" for many years now. It's now the "Guys Buy and Sell Junk Channel". Keep up with the times.

This might be more like the Japan of the 1870s before the US convinced them that arming themselves and pushing off the islands would be a great idea.

Of course, its always the fault of the United States. A water main breaks down-town Tokyo, blame the United States, amirite?

Actually, we were pretty influential in modernizing and militarization of Japan after we sent Dewey's White Fleet to say "Oh Hai, I know you are all closed but wanna trade? Oh these dreadnaughts? oh, we just like sailing in style, but wouldn't want to get it mad. So what do you say?" Next thing you know Japan is kicking some Russian Navy butt.

tinfoil-hat maggie:mainsail: tinfoil-hat maggie: HMS_Blinkin: Because subby has been watching too much History channel and wants to re-live WWII for some deluded reason? Today's circumstances are only superficially similar to those that led to WWII, and anyone who bothers to look past the "ZOMG borders are being violated" narrative will quickly realize that.

I'm not saying that the international situation isn't a bit troubling, but it's also not a replay of 1939.

More like 1914.

Cheery thought.

The Russ are the protectors of all the Slavs.

Russian National AnthemFrom there:Uploaded on Sep 27, 2008Long live the Russians...the mother of the Slavs!!! May Russian recapture its former glory! May all Slavic nations unite!!!

/Fun stuff.

I know. I've spent years studying WWI. Seems as though Putin has supplied his own Black Hand, this time.

cman:This text is now purple: cman: Stratohead: there is no question of "IF" we will go to war with China... the only question is "When".

That would be insanely idiotic

If would result in a catastrophic death for our economy

I believe that people like making money and will go to any lengths to protect that

That was the logic in 1914.

Have a citation to back that up?

Read John Keagan's "The First World War" He goes in depth on why the war should have never occurred as Europe was in a state of peace not seen since the Pax Romana mostly because of the industrial revolution and the interdependence of European Economies.

first there is the issue of Taiwan. China will eventually invade Taiwan to reabsorb it into the mother land, assuming they can't require the island via political or economic means. Even it it takes a couple hundred years, they will pursue this. Anyone who doubts this, hasn't studied the past 2000 years of Chinese history.

Then there is there growing land grabs... China is currently butting heads with Japan over the Senkaku, The current situation where China is building on reclaimed land on a reef off the Philipines in territory claimed by the Philipines, and the growing conflict with China and Viet Nam over disputed waters and oil rigs...the same with China and Korea.Hell they are rioting in Viet Nam...and are (mistakenly) torching factories that the THINK are Chinese.eventually the PRC will make a play for the Spratleys as well.

Like I said...not a question of "IF" but a question of "WHEN" the only way to avoid the conflict is for the US, and EVERYONE else on the planet to just roll over and allow the Chinese to do whatever the fark they want...which isn't going to fly with VietNam,Korea, Japan...etc.